NEWS

Here at Studio 21, we are very proud to have Ron Gilmore who has served in the U.S Air Force before the beginning of his tattoo career for 10 years. On a chill Sunday, we decided to ask him a couple more questions regarding his past military life. He went to military school at seventeen and was offered to go into the Army, Marines or Air Force and he chose the Air Force. Ron was a Combat Controller, the scariest thing Ron has ever done was jump out of an airplane at 30,000 feet. He fulfilled 150 military free falls and about 75 static lines. He never broke anything, but he definitely hit his head pretty hard a few times! While traveling in the military the most beautiful place he had visited was Azores in Portugal, but he enjoyed Turkey the best because it reminded him of the Las Vegas strip, super fun! The thing that Ron is most proud of is completing his military training, because he can choose to quit every day, but he never gave up. Everything else after that, he was just happy to be out of training. During his last enlistment, he got into tattooing so that he could do that after his service. He had someone there give him the opportunity and be his mentor, then later on he moved to Atlanta and worked with Dino Cook and Russ Abbott at Psycho Tattoo. Another really awesome dude he worked with was Chris Steele who still remains as Ron’s really good friend. He was later then recruited here in Las Vegas at a strip shop and when the opportunity came knocking again, he ended up here with the Studio 21 crew!

By Vanessa Torres

If you’re thinking about starting a sleeve or something larger on the tattoo side, there are some easy steps to prepare your mind and body to make the process more comfortable and help your recovery time.
First, keep yourself hydrated the day before and before your tattoo. Staying hydrated in general is great for healthy bodily function, but especially important when getting a tattoo. It will make your skin more resilient, which allows you to endure longer tattoo sessions and help you heal faster following your tattoo session.
Second, make sure you get plenty of rest! Maybe get to bed early, you will want to be well rested before getting a piece of permanent art on your body. 
Third, don’t forget to eat a healthy balanced meal before heading into your tattoo session. It is definitely not uncommon for people to lose their appetite due to nerves before a tattoo session and then pass out due to fatigue. Even though it seems as if you are just sitting during a session, you are actually exerting a lot of energy during the session. Being hungry while you are getting tattooed will make pain management more difficult and uncomfortable for everyone. Follow these steps to ensure you get the most out of your tattoo session! 

By Vanessa Torres

After getting a tattoo at Studio 21, especially if it’s your first tattoo, you will definitely get the 101 on tattoo aftercare to make sure you are taking good care of the tattoo especially while it’s still in its healing stage. If you ever have any questions on healing you are always welcome to call us or email us, so that we can assist you with those questions. But aside from taking care of a tattoo while it’s fresh, how about taking care of a tattoo for its life? There are some easy steps and things to consider to take care of your tattoo for the rest of its life to make sure it is always looking fabulous!

First thing, drink plenty of water! Not only is it good for your body, but it keeps your skin looking good and that means, your body’s art canvas as well will be kept moisturized. Second, protect your cool tattoos with sunscreen! Sunscreen is vital for healthy skin, but for tattoos it serves an equally important purpose of keeping your ink from fading in the sun. The more exposure to the sun your tattoo receives, the faster it will fade. Lighter ink will fade faster than darker ink and even though black, dark blue and purple hues may not fade as quickly, they are still compromised by the sun’s rays. Lastly, keep those tattoos moisturized! What is good for the rest of your skin is particularly good for your tattoo. Dry skin can make tattoos look blurred or faded, keeping your skin moisturized is the best thing you can do to keep them fresh for a lifetime. Avoid lotions with additives and fragrances which can dry out your skin, always buy a moisturizer that is right for your age and skin type and apply it daily and that is the 101 for tattoo care for life!

(Tattoos pictured by artist left to right: Alex Moreno, Das Frank, Jake Seeland) Call the shop for appointment if interested)

By Vanessa Torres

Ever wonder what you should do if you’re planning a tattoo while on vacation? Let’s go over the pros and cons and set you up for success on your next vacation in Las Vegas!

Some of the cool things about getting a tattoo is that it makes the whole vacation a memorable experience! It is a great way to celebrate birthdays, bachelor parties, family/friend reunions and more. Many clients at Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery have turned it into yearly traditions with some of our top artists from around the country.

Some of the potential cons on getting a tattoo while on vacation could be the aftercare of a tattoo while on vacation. Pools/Spas or outdoor activities are harmful to a fresh tattoo, therefore you might consider scheduling your tattoo at the end of your trip. Or if you are carrying heavy luggage, while a larger tattoo is healing, it might become super uncomfortable. Las Vegas has numerous tattoo shops where you could get inked, but not all places are safe to get a tattoo from. Do your research and choose a place with a good reputation, choose Studio 21 Tattoo!

Some helpful tips include contacting our shop when you start making travel plans. Search our artists and see if you’d like to work with anyone in particular or we can suggest one for you. When you contact the shop, design, pricing and the time involved will be discussed before you get here to save time while you are here!

Walk-in tattoos may be an option, but are not always available. Walk-in’s are first come first served basis only. Plan your time accordingly.

By Vanessa Torres

There is no better way to bring people together than when you involve all things food! Food is a representation of expressions and cultures around the world. With so many cultures around the world that we may not be able to visit, we have the ability to experience them through the food that comes to our restaurants and stores. Now how do tattoos and foods go together? The influence food has brought has even made its way into the tattoo industry, why not get your favorite foods inked on you? A few popular tattoo foods are peaches, which have been popular for decades, avocados, noodles, pizza, desserts and more! Here at Studio 21 Tattoo we have seen many clients inked with their favorite foods. A few weeks ago a bowl of noodles was tattooed on a couple of best friends and every artists at this shop has had their share of pineapple, avocado, taco and burrito tattoos. Food tattoos are always fun and great ways to express our love of food, community and culture. What food would you have tattooed on you?

Vanessa Torres